District 18: Bound Brook rolls, Cassar repeats

HILLSBOROUGH The featured bout of the District 18 Tournament at 195 pounds would have been a great one to cap a long day. Instead, the Somerset County Tournament rematch between Franklin’s Ralph Normandia and Montgomery’s Anthony Cassar was drawn as the one to kick off the finals.

Where it was placed didn’t matter, it lived up to the advanced notice and for the second time, the unbeaten Cassar (36-0) was victorious, winning 5-2. Chances of the two seeing each other again at the Region V Tournament this week seem pretty good.

Three-time team champion Bound Brook was dominant, a verb not fitting enouh. The county and state Group I champs scored a whopping 300 ½ points, topping surprise and distant runner-up Ridge, which finished with 121. Bridgewater-Raritan was third with 119 ½ with Somerville fourth at 106 ½. Cassar was the tournament’s outstanding wrestler, while Bridgewater-Raritan coach Greg Evans was coach of the year.

Bound Brook had 11 champions, a runner-up and a third, meaning it will arrive at the region tournament with 13 wrestlers. The region tournament begins Wednesday at the Hunterdon Central Fieldhouse with district runner-up and third-place finishers pairing up. District champs get a bye and return Friday. The region semifinals, consolation finals and championship finals are Saturday with the top three qualifying for the NJSIAA Tournament at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

Two of the Somerset County’s dominant wrestlers didn’t make Atlantic City last year, and a third didn’t last long. Cassar finished fourth in the region after winning first district title, Franklin senior Mike Fagg – Daves was second at the region and went 1-2 at Atlantic City and Somerville sophomore 113-pounder Evan Drill was fourth in the district. Fagg-Daves won his second district title by beating Bound Brook senior Ryan Doerr 5-3 at 170 in another county final rematch. Drill (32-1, 57-12) beat Ridge’s Vincent Bommier 11-1.

Cassar, now 106-21 for his career, scored a quick takedown against Normandia, a third place state place winner last year at 220 after winning region and district titles.Cassar was the event’s outstanding wrestler.

“I think at the counties I surprised him, he definitely came out a lot stronger, he definitely wanted it this time, I wanted it a little more, it was a good match, he gave me a full six minutes and I ended up coming out on top and I thank God for it, ’’ said Cassar. “This is another step to where I want to be.’’

Fagg-Daves has been where Cassar wants to be – Atlantic City – on a couple of occasions. He was third at the district as a freshman, but wound up being a region champ and the tournament’s outstanding wrestler.

“I started out strong early, our coach has a five second rule when we are engaged in contact at the beginning of the match I just listened to our coach and set the pace early and I intend to do the same at the regions,’’ said Fagg Daves, 33-2 and 108-32 for his career.

Bound Brook’s Isaiah Soto (182), Craig De La Cruz (126) and Michael Johnson (285) won their third district titles and Joshua Ugalde (160), Nick Accetta (138) and Sean Glasgow (145) won their second. Glasgow won at District 20 last season for East Brunswick before transferring to Bound Brook.

Soto rallied to beat top seeded Ridge senior Cort Hotz (32-2), one of seven Red Devils to qualify for the regions.

“There was a lot more pressure on me today because we had 10 kids winning before me and I’m the last one to come out, you don’t want to be remembered for being the last one come out and lose,’’ said Soto.

About Harry Frezza

Harry Frezza is a proud 1974 graduate of Bound Brook High School. He graduated from Rowan University. The Somerset County native is in his 35th year at the Courier News. He's the father of three children -- Thomas, 24, Nicole, 22 and Jamie Janeen 20. All are graduates of Nazareth Area High School (Pa.) home of the Blue Eagles.